Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Does anyone know of a good alternative to St. John's Wort for when the summer heat kicks in? I've heard the sun can trigger redness or skin sensitivity, and honestly, that's the last thing I want dealing with right now...

So, I’ve been on 75 mg of this medication, but I ended up stopping because I couldn't find it at any local pharmacy for about a week, and by then my prescription had already expired. It turns out I haven't actually taken it for three weeks now, and honestly, I don't feel much of a difference; my mood seems pretty much the same as it was before. I'm feeling a bit conflicted about whether I should just jump back on it or if I really ought to check in with my doctor first. She isn't exactly thrilled when I start tweaking my own treatment plan, so I have a feeling she won't be too happy hearing that I've been off it for three weeks. Does anyone have some advice? I am still being very consistent with the other two medications I take, Zyprexa and Risperdal.

Harold Anderson3 said:So, I’ve been on 75 mg of this medication, but I ended up stopping because I couldn't find it at any local pharmacy for about a week, and by then my prescription had already expired. It turns out I haven't actually taken it for three weeks now, and honestly, I don't feel much of a difference; my mood seems pretty much the same as it was before. I'm feeling a bit conflicted about whether I should just jump back on it or if I really ought to check in with my doctor first. She isn't exactly thrilled when I start tweaking my own treatment plan, so I have a feeling she won't be too happy hearing that I've been off it for three weeks. Does anyone have some advice? I am still being very consistent with the other two medications I take, Zyprexa and Risperdal.

Man, Harold Anderson3, you know better than anyone that you can't just quit a med like that on your own. You're gonna have to level with your shrink and tell her exactly how you've been feeling without it... she might be pissed, but trust me, they've seen it all when it comes to patient behavior, so...http://yoursmiles.org/msmile/pozitive/m1212.gif

Harold Anderson3 said:So, I’ve been on 75 mg of this medication, but I ended up stopping because I couldn't find it at any local pharmacy for about a week, and by then my prescription had already expired. It turns out I haven't actually taken it for three weeks now, and honestly, I don't feel much of a difference; my mood seems pretty much the same as it was before. I'm feeling a bit conflicted about whether I should just jump back on it or if I really ought to check in with my doctor first. She isn't exactly thrilled when I start tweaking my own treatment plan, so I have a feeling she won't be too happy hearing that I've been off it for three weeks. Does anyone have some advice? I am still being very consistent with the other two medications I take, Zyprexa and Risperdal.

I'm on 37.5 mg of Effexor three times a day. If I miss even a single (ONE!) dose, I literally turn into this shaking, massive, terrifying monster!

Anyway, just talk to your doctor.
I'm dying to know what happens!

Matthew White4 said:I'm on 37.5 mg of Effexor three times a day. If I miss even a single (ONE!) dose, I literally turn into this shaking, massive, terrifying monster!

Anyway, just talk to your doctor.
I'm dying to know what happens!

So, I went ahead and called my doctor, and starting tomorrow, I'm getting back on 75 mg of Effexor after taking a break for about three and a half weeks. Honestly, I don't feel particularly depressed right now, but I figured a little boost in serotonin wouldn't hurt anything.

I’ve been staying consistent with my Velafax, which honestly helps me quite a bit, and they also added Seroquel to my regimen; it’s actually a really effective medication, though I suppose the downside is that I feel hungry all the time.😁
The most critical part for me is that I’m on 30mg of Xanax daily—well, it used to be Normabel.
That diazepam really does the trick... it feels significantly better than alprazolam, which I suspect just ends up wrecking your brain.

How long does it actually take for an antipsychotic to really kick in and start doing its job?

So, here’s the deal—I was recently prescribed 300mg of Seroquel XR, and out of nowhere, over the last few days, I’ve been feeling... well, almost completely sane. I’ve been on it for about 20 days now, so I’m sitting here wondering if it’s actually the medication or just some strange cosmic fluke. Either way, this sudden shift caught me totally off guard. I feel more stable—those intrusive thoughts have either weakened significantly or vanished entirely—and the nightmares have finally stopped. For once, I’m actually in a decent mood. I just find myself praying this lasts—that I don't slide right back into that exhausting cycle of merely surviving instead of actually living my life.

Antipsychotics tend to kick in pretty fast,
just take them and be happy

http://www.pic4ever.com/images/fly2.gif

Hi everyone...
I’m not entirely sure if I’m in the right place here (please don't tear me apart if I'm not 🤷)

I’ve been living with the diagnosis mentioned above for five years now, taking 25mg of Lamictal and Celexa 20mg daily...
In the meantime, my driver's license expired, and since I wear glasses, I had to go through the medical evaluation process again...
Under the current laws, I was required to provide a statement from my primary care physician clearly stating my diagnosis...
And they won't give me my medical clearance...

Apparently, this diagnosis is considered "dangerous" (though I haven't been a danger to anyone but myself during my depressive episodes), and they claim patients with such conditions aren't allowed to hold a license...

I even reached out to my former psychiatrist (whom I hasn't seen in two years)... and she's just as baffled by this...

Does anyone have any advice... perhaps a recommendation for a reasonable doctor (I previously went to Mayo Clinic) because having a license is absolutely essential for my life to function normally?

Thanks...

pegula said:Yesterday, I started my first quarter dose of Paxil. Could someone explain how Paxil and similar medications actually affect you? I'm curious about the positive side effects—can you still function normally under their influence? How effectively do they mask anxiety?

I'm also on Paxil, and it has helped manage my issues with obsessive thoughts to some extent. While I wouldn't say I'm completely satisfied with it, I haven't experienced any side effects at all. It’s been very smooth sailing for me, with no tremors or anything else.

pegula said:I just started my first month on Paxil yesterday. Could someone explain how Paxil and similar medications actually affect you (specifically the benefits)? Can you function normally while taking them? How much do they actually mask anxiety?

I've been on Paxil for about a month now and started feeling the effects about a week ago, though the initial side effects were absolutely brutal—I’m still dealing with some, like my hands constantly shaking, but it's nowhere near as bad as it was at the start. For me, it’s quite sedating and calming; it has lifted my mood significantly and quieted my obsessions, which works for me, but that doesn't mean it'll work for you since everyone's body reacts differently.

Larry Lewis said:How long does it actually take for an antipsychotic to really kick in and start doing its job?

So, here’s the deal—I was recently prescribed 300mg of Seroquel XR, and out of nowhere, over the last few days, I’ve been feeling... well, almost completely sane. I’ve been on it for about 20 days now, so I’m sitting here wondering if it’s actually the medication or just some strange cosmic fluke. Either way, this sudden shift caught me totally off guard. I feel more stable—those intrusive thoughts have either weakened significantly or vanished entirely—and the nightmares have finally stopped. For once, I’m actually in a decent mood. I just find myself praying this lasts—that I don't slide right back into that exhausting cycle of merely surviving instead of actually living my life.

It’s genuinely good to hear that Seroquel is making a difference for someone. You’re on a pretty high dose, I suppose, but then again... the most important thing is that you're feeling better. Personally, I take 100mg of Seroquel, which seems to be just about right for me—not too little, but not overwhelming either. 😉
For me, this medication has been incredibly helpful, and I truly believe it's one of the most effective antipsychotics out there. It's hard to imagine anything better.

I’ve been sipping on 15mg of Praxiten for a few years now. It was my replacement for Apaurin—which I was miserably addicted to before seeking professional help to detox... though my psychiatrist told me this struggle was inevitable. She was right. I’ve been through seven different circles of hell with that experience... and then came the Praxiten. God 😠
.
It started classically: mornings and evenings... then eventually afternoons when needed, then mid-shift doses... until I managed to push myself up to 4 pills a day. That’s a hell of a lot. I was either constantly nodding off or just straight-up sleeping...

So, relatively recently, I decided to take matters into my own hands and start tapering off "therapy." Dropping from 4 to 3 was a massive leap. For about three weeks, I felt the void left by that one missing pill, but I pushed through... then I dropped to 2. I felt that one, too. The usual suspects: headaches, lethargy, irritability... by noon I hate myself, and by the afternoon I hate the rest of the world. That dragged on for another 3-4 weeks...

-Then I summoned the strength to move down to 1.5... basically half a Praxiten in the morning, half in the afternoon, and half at night... and even that hit me pretty hard.

And just a week ago, I moved down to 1 mg of Praxiten... half in the morning and half at night... and this is fucking brutal. My head feels like it's exploding, my arms feel heavy, and I can feel every single bone in my body—and I am not exaggerating. Whether there's sleep or not, if there is, the nightmares are so vivid I can't tell if I'm dreaming or awake... plus the excessive sweating... it’s a total nightmare on the N100 level.

Basically, I also cut out Cipralex, which I actually liked, reducing that therapy by 50% as well. I’m doing all of this on my own without my psychiatrist knowing... though it wouldn't really matter if she did, since I’m stuck at home 808 miles... :/

The night before last, a brutal crisis hit me. I ended up taking half a Praxiten, which wasn't the plan, but I just couldn't take it anymore...

mistycrane19 said:I’ve been sipping on 15mg of Praxiten for a few years now. It was my replacement for Apaurin—which I was miserably addicted to before seeking professional help to detox... though my psychiatrist told me this struggle was inevitable. She was right. I’ve been through seven different circles of hell with that experience... and then came the Praxiten. God 😠
.
It started classically: mornings and evenings... then eventually afternoons when needed, then mid-shift doses... until I managed to push myself up to 4 pills a day. That’s a hell of a lot. I was either constantly nodding off or just straight-up sleeping...

So, relatively recently, I decided to take matters into my own hands and start tapering off "therapy." Dropping from 4 to 3 was a massive leap. For about three weeks, I felt the void left by that one missing pill, but I pushed through... then I dropped to 2. I felt that one, too. The usual suspects: headaches, lethargy, irritability... by noon I hate myself, and by the afternoon I hate the rest of the world. That dragged on for another 3-4 weeks...

-Then I summoned the strength to move down to 1.5... basically half a Praxiten in the morning, half in the afternoon, and half at night... and even that hit me pretty hard.

And just a week ago, I moved down to 1 mg of Praxiten... half in the morning and half at night... and this is fucking brutal. My head feels like it's exploding, my arms feel heavy, and I can feel every single bone in my body—and I am not exaggerating. Whether there's sleep or not, if there is, the nightmares are so vivid I can't tell if I'm dreaming or awake... plus the excessive sweating... it’s a total nightmare on the N100 level.

Basically, I also cut out Cipralex, which I actually liked, reducing that therapy by 50% as well. I’m doing all of this on my own without my psychiatrist knowing... though it wouldn't really matter if she did, since I’m stuck at home 808 miles... :/

The night before last, a brutal crisis hit me. I ended up taking half a Praxiten, which wasn't the plan, but I just couldn't take it anymore...

It’s not exactly the smartest move to stop meds on your own without talking to your psychiatrist, especially with antidepressants, because those symptoms can come roaring back even harder. It's great that you managed to get down to half a Praxiten, but the hardest part is usually going from that half to nothing. ☕

I didn't even start at half dose... I went from 4 down to 1. And honestly, I'm splitting that single dose into two takes. 😉

Kenneth Scott41 said:It’s genuinely good to hear that Seroquel is making a difference for someone. You’re on a pretty high dose, I suppose, but then again... the most important thing is that you're feeling better. Personally, I take 100mg of Seroquel, which seems to be just about right for me—not too little, but not overwhelming either. 😉
For me, this medication has been incredibly helpful, and I truly believe it's one of the most effective antipsychotics out there. It's hard to imagine anything better.

Yeah, it seems like it fits my chemistry perfectly, and judging by what you said, it works for you too. Though, looking back, 300mg isn't actually a massive dose—my doctor mentioned that dosages for this stuff can climb all the way up to 1200mg, and frankly, if things were worse, I’d probably swallow that much without a second thought just to feel normal.🙂

As for the Fevarin, I’ve been taking 100mg daily and haven't run into any nasty side effects, though I will say it helped quite a bit.

Right now, I’m in the process of tapering down my Diazepam, and surprisingly, I haven't hit any major withdrawals or crises—but then again, I suspect that’s mostly because my antipsychotic is finally doing its job properly.

electricgardener85 said:Hi everyone...
I’m not entirely sure if I’m in the right place here (please don't tear me apart if I'm not 🤷)

I’ve been living with the diagnosis mentioned above for five years now, taking 25mg of Lamictal and Celexa 20mg daily...
In the meantime, my driver's license expired, and since I wear glasses, I had to go through the medical evaluation process again...
Under the current laws, I was required to provide a statement from my primary care physician clearly stating my diagnosis...
And they won't give me my medical clearance...

Apparently, this diagnosis is considered "dangerous" (though I haven't been a danger to anyone but myself during my depressive episodes), and they claim patients with such conditions aren't allowed to hold a license...

I even reached out to my former psychiatrist (whom I hasn't seen in two years)... and she's just as baffled by this...

Does anyone have any advice... perhaps a recommendation for a reasonable doctor (I previously went to Mayo Clinic) because having a license is absolutely essential for my life to function normally?

Thanks...

Wait, couldn't your GP just... not mention the diagnosis on the paperwork?

mistycrane19 said:I’ve been sipping on 15mg of Praxiten for a few years now. It was my replacement for Apaurin—which I was miserably addicted to before seeking professional help to detox... though my psychiatrist told me this struggle was inevitable. She was right. I’ve been through seven different circles of hell with that experience... and then came the Praxiten. God 😠
.
It started classically: mornings and evenings... then eventually afternoons when needed, then mid-shift doses... until I managed to push myself up to 4 pills a day. That’s a hell of a lot. I was either constantly nodding off or just straight-up sleeping...

So, relatively recently, I decided to take matters into my own hands and start tapering off "therapy." Dropping from 4 to 3 was a massive leap. For about three weeks, I felt the void left by that one missing pill, but I pushed through... then I dropped to 2. I felt that one, too. The usual suspects: headaches, lethargy, irritability... by noon I hate myself, and by the afternoon I hate the rest of the world. That dragged on for another 3-4 weeks...

-Then I summoned the strength to move down to 1.5... basically half a Praxiten in the morning, half in the afternoon, and half at night... and even that hit me pretty hard.

And just a week ago, I moved down to 1 mg of Praxiten... half in the morning and half at night... and this is fucking brutal. My head feels like it's exploding, my arms feel heavy, and I can feel every single bone in my body—and I am not exaggerating. Whether there's sleep or not, if there is, the nightmares are so vivid I can't tell if I'm dreaming or awake... plus the excessive sweating... it’s a total nightmare on the N100 level.

Basically, I also cut out Cipralex, which I actually liked, reducing that therapy by 50% as well. I’m doing all of this on my own without my psychiatrist knowing... though it wouldn't really matter if she did, since I’m stuck at home 808 miles... :/

The night before last, a brutal crisis hit me. I ended up taking half a Praxiten, which wasn't the plan, but I just couldn't take it anymore...

I tip my hat to you! People who haven't been addicted to Paxil or other types of benzos have no idea what kind of hell this is. That withdrawal can easily be compared to methadone withdrawal. I've been through both, and I can tell you that the Xanax withdrawal was literally killing my brain. It's hard to explain how it feels to someone else, but that withdrawal is "dry," and you feel like an ice cube because you're shivering constantly and your nose won't stop running, plus those intense muscle tremors and stiffness because your body is used to the anxiolytic and suddenly it isn't, so your whole system is basically in a state of shock and cramping!
Diazepam is often used as a bridge while you're weaning off Xanax. Generally, at a major hospital like Mayo Clinic, the maximum inpatient dose of Diazepam is only 30mg, which is three 10mg tablets.🙂
That's why I remember clearly what Dr. Quincy told me, and I try not to exceed 30mg of Normabas a day, though sometimes I do end up taking 4 tablets, but I feel at peace because I finally got rid of that stupid Xanax that wrecked my nerves and my brain.

Kenneth Scott41 said:I tip my hat to you! People who haven't been addicted to Paxil or other types of benzos have no idea what kind of hell this is. That withdrawal can easily be compared to methadone withdrawal. I've been through both, and I can tell you that the Xanax withdrawal was literally killing my brain. It's hard to explain how it feels to someone else, but that withdrawal is "dry," and you feel like an ice cube because you're shivering constantly and your nose won't stop running, plus those intense muscle tremors and stiffness because your body is used to the anxiolytic and suddenly it isn't, so your whole system is basically in a state of shock and cramping!
Diazepam is often used as a bridge while you're weaning off Xanax. Generally, at a major hospital like Mayo Clinic, the maximum inpatient dose of Diazepam is only 30mg, which is three 10mg tablets.🙂
That's why I remember clearly what Dr. Quincy told me, and I try not to exceed 30mg of Normabas a day, though sometimes I do end up taking 4 tablets, but I feel at peace because I finally got rid of that stupid Xanax that wrecked my nerves and my brain.

Look, I never even wanted to touch Xanax. A close friend of mine used to take them and kept saying how "great" they were, and how you always just want one more. 😬
-Since I’m genetically prone to addiction, I'm terrified of how that would end up playing out..

-Coming off Oxazepam was pure misery. It required hospitalization, and honestly, I was praying for death. It was just too much. Every time I think back to 😢